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Officials warn of bogus work-at-home offers

By Joe WhitePDN ReporterPostal authorities are warning of a recentscam that could affect LeFlore Countyresidents.The U.S. Postal Inspection Service hasreleased a statement to educate the publicon the dangers of the Work-At-HomeRe-Shipping Scam.Officials said that the scam is costingthe U.S. Postal Service lost postage andtaking advantage of those trying to earnextra money during the holidays.The USPIS said that the scam beginswhen individuals who have submitted aresume to various well-known nationalwebsites believe that they have been contactedvia e-mail and offered a legitimatework-at-home position.The target of the scam is told that they will be paidbased on the number of gifts they repackage and resendand are offered a bogus work contract.Merchandise is purchased by the scammer with stolencredit card information and then sent to victims to berepackaged and sent to locations in Russia.Bridget London, USPS postmaster in Poteau, said thatvictims of the scam can be charged with trafficking stolengoods and that one local woman already has been targeted.“There have been two arrests in the Tulsa area,” Londonsaid. “People need to be wary of work-at-home joboffers.”London added that victims of the scam are not paid forresending the packages.USPIS officials said shipping labels for the repackageditems are bogus, most already having been used.They asked anyone who believes that they may havebeen a victim of the scam to contact the local post officeor police department.